Did you know that an estimated 388 million single-use cups were used in Scotland in 2021-2022? This created 5,400 tonnes of waste. 

Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Litter Survey in 2023 found the majority of people (53%) frequently see littered single-use disposable beverage cups.

In light of these alarming statistics, the Scottish Government is proposing a 25p charge for all single-use drink cups, regardless of material. There will be some exemptions for specific locations and uses.

As part of a public consultation running until November 5, Scots are being asked to have their say regarding this charge to promote responsible consumption and cut waste. If successful the charge will be implemented in late 2025. 

Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin MSP said that around four-fifths of Scotland’s carbon footprint came from the products and services his country manufactured, used or threw away. 

“While progress has been made, we still need to cut our emissions significantly and to achieve this we must drive a societal shift to reduce the demand for things we use and throw-away,” he said.

“The best way to reduce waste is to not create it in the first place and everyone can play a role in moving towards a circular economy where resources are kept in use for as long as possible.”

Similar laws regarding single-use charges have been proposed for Ireland and Wales, and in response to these, many cafes have turned towards Ecoffee Cup to reduce their single-use waste. 

Award-winning Dublin bakery Bread 41 saved more than €8,000 and 36,000 single-use cups in the first six months since moving to a reusable coffee cup program with Ecoffee Cup.

If you’d like to get ahead of Scotland’s proposed charges for single-use cups, speak with us about implementing a reusable deposit program.